MENDIP HILLS AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY HG-11-01046 SIGNAGE AND INTERPRETATION PLAN FOR THE BURRINGTON COMMONS JULY 2012 Mendip Hills AONB Unit, Charterhouse Centre, Blagdon, Bristol BS40 7XR 01761 462338 [email protected], www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk Discovering Black Down Signing and Interpretation Plan (2012) HG-11-01046 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................4 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND .....................................................6 1.1 Purpose of the Study ...........................................................................6 2. AUDIT OF INTERPRETATION, ENTRANCES AND SIGNAGE .................8 2.1 Interpretation ........................................................................................8 2.1.1 Interpretation Panels .....................................................................8 2.1.2 Publications ...................................................................................9 2.1.3 Internet Resources ......................................................................10 2.1.4 Events and Activities...................................................................12 2.2 Site Entrances ....................................................................................13 2.3 Signing ................................................................................................14 2.3.1 Entrance Signs / Boundary Markers ..........................................14 2.3.2 Promoted Routes Signing...........................................................15 2.3.3 Public Right of Way Signage ......................................................15 2.3.4 Public Guidance Notices.............................................................16 2.3.5 Out of Date Signage.....................................................................17 2.3.6 Other signage...............................................................................17 2.3.7 Overview of Current Signage......................................................17 3. AUDIENCE ................................................................................................19 4. INTERPRETIVE RESOURCES .................................................................22 4.1 Interpretative Significance.................................................................22 5. INTERPRETIVE THEMES & OBJECTIVES..............................................25 5.1 The Story of the Burrington Commons ............................................25 5.2 What Are Themes?.............................................................................25 5.3 Core Theme.........................................................................................26 5.4 Discussion of Potential Sub-themes ................................................26 5.5 Recommended Themes .....................................................................28 5.6 Interpretive Objectives.......................................................................34 6. INTERPRETIVE MEDIA RECOMMENDATIONS......................................36 6.1 Communicating the Themes .............................................................36 6.2 Recommendations for Interpretive Media........................................37 7. PROMOTIONAL / MARKETING TOOLS ..................................................75 8. SIGNING RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................76 8.1 Signing Objectives .............................................................................76 8.2 Interpretation and Signing for People with Disabilities ..................76 8.3 Design of Outdoor Interpretative Panels..........................................77 8.4 Signing at Primary Entrances ...........................................................77 8.5 Signing at Secondary Entrances ......................................................78 8.6 Public Rights of Way Signage...........................................................78 8.7 Branding..............................................................................................79 8.8 Promoted Routes Signing .................................................................79 8.9 Public Guidance Notices ...................................................................79 9. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................80 BIBLIOGRAPHY ...........................................................................................82 2 Discovering Black Down Signing and Interpretation Plan (2012) HG-11-01046 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Audit of Signage and Interpretation – Map and Spreadsheet. Appendix 2: Questionnaire - Analysis of Survey Result Copy of blank questionnaire. Appendix 3: Interpretative Inventory. Appendix 4: Plan of Primary and Secondary Site Entrances. 3 Discovering Black Down Signing and Interpretation Plan (2012) HG-11-01046 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report sets out a co-ordinated framework for the signage and interpretation of Black Down, Burrington Ham and Burrington Combe (collectively known as the Burrington Commons). The work has been carried out as part of the development phase of a HLF application for the Discovering Black Down project. The recommendations of the report will be incorporated into the final stage 2 application. An audit of site interpretation, entrances and signage was carried out in March 2012 and this highlighted a number of areas for improvement. An interpretive inventory was also carried out to identify what is special and unique about the Burrington Commons and this was developed in consultation with a focus group meeting of key stakeholders. In addition a questionnaire survey of visitors to the Burrington Commons was undertaken to ascertain how much people already knew about the area, how interested they were in particular interpretive themes and their reaction to different types of interpretative media. This work underpinned the development of interpretive core and sub-themes for the Burrington Commons. The core theme is as follows: - The Burrington Commons is an ancient landscape with evidence of human activity dating back into prehistory. Nine sub-themes were also identified for active interpretation in a variety of media. The sub-themes are as follows: The Burrington Commons has a special character that is shaped by the underlying sandstone and limestone rocks. There is evidence of people living and dying on the land dating back over 10,000 years. The treasured landscapes of the Burrington Commons are a result of its agricultural past and the way that it is farmed today. The Burrington Commons support a rich array of plants and animals which reflect the underlying rocks and soils. Black Down was used as a bombing decoy site during the Second World War and is one of only a few remaining in the country. In the past, quarrying and mineral extraction was an important source of income for local people. This is a fragile landscape that can be easily damaged by overuse and inappropriate activities. There is a legend that Augustus Montague Toplady was inspired to write the hymn Rock of Ages while sheltering under a rock in the Combe during a thunderstorm in the late 18th century. Walkers have the ‘right to roam’ on the Burrington Commons, however only a few local people still enjoy ‘commoners’ rights’. 4 Discovering Black Down Signing and Interpretation Plan (2012) HG-11-01046 Interpretative plans were then developed for each piece of interpretative media and activity that the Discovering Black Down project will deliver. These set the themes that each activity and interpretative media is seeking to convey, along with concise interpretative / activity objectives and a clear definition of the interpretative media to be used and its costs. Recommendations on improving the signing of the site are also included, particularly the need to have signs at 11 primary and secondary entrance points which contain a map of the Burrington Commons showing open access land and public rights of way and clear information on the respective access rights of different recreational users. At the end of this report a summary table of recommendations is presented. 5 Discovering Black Down Signing and Interpretation Plan (2012) HG-11-01046 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The spectacular scenery of the Burrington Commons makes it one of the most treasured areas within the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The area possesses an open, wild and remote character and this is very attractive to people wishing to experience outdoor activities such as walking, horse riding and off-road cycling. The importance of the areas wildlife and rich history is reflected in its multiple designations, which include three Scheduled Monuments and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Burrington Commons consist of three distinct parts:- Black Down - an area of sandstone geology supporting upland heathland. Burrington Combe - a dramatic limestone gorge. Burrington Ham - an area of largely calcareous grassland with scrub, woodland and rocky outcrops. The numbers of visitors wishing to enjoy the Burrington Commons has increased markedly over the last few decades and this has had a damaging impact on this beautiful and remote landscape, particularly with the development of erosion scars. To address this problem the Mendip Hills AONB Unit has developed a project entitled ‘Sustaining Black Down’ which will help conserve the heritage landscapes, biodiversity and archaeological features of the Burrington